Diocese has more new bishops than new priests this year

Diocese has more new bishops than new priests

A number of dioceses have been struggling with a shortage of new recruits . However, in this archbishopric, the situation is particularly extraordinary: in the past, even more bishops were consecrated as priests were ordained.

In the Czech Archdiocese of Olomouc, only a new diocesan priest was ordained this year - but two new bishops were consecrayed. Archbishop Jan Graubner took this situation as an occasion to call for prayer, as Vatican Radio reports.

Graubner expressed his request, according to the report on the occasion of the double bishops' consecration in the Olomouc St Wenceslas Cathedral last Saturday. Antonin Basler and Josef Nuzik, two new auxiliary bishops were consecrated to the Archdiocese. Graubner emphasized at the festive service that prayers were not sufficient for vocations; one must also have "enough children for God to call someone". The Archbishop also thanked all those who worked for the protection of Christian marriage and life, such as by voting in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

According to the Pontifical Yearbook, the Archdiocese of Olomouc last counted a three-million-million-strong Catholic population of 343 priests. Last year, five new diocesan priests were ordained.

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